Rigid-point frog.



H. F. ROAGH.

RIGID POINT rRoG.

' APPLICATION I'ILED FEB. 16, 1'912. Ll f W Patented M2122, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

innesca.

`i. an sra ics.

RIGID-POINT FRGG.

Application led February 16, 1912.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, HARRY F. ROAGH, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Rigid- Point Frogs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which is appertains to make and use the same. y

This invention relates to railway track structures, and particularly to cast metal frogs of the typein which the point is Xed or immovable. The cast metal frogs that have heretofore been in use have not proved entirely satisfactory owingfto the fact that a wheel in passing over the frog 'caused'reverse strains which often resulted in breaking the casting. This was due tothe fact that the frog consisted of a one-piece rigid casting or integral mass of metal of such design that when a load was applied to one end of same the casting would fulcrum lon the track ties in advance of the point where the load was applied and thus cause the metal in the top of the casting to be stretched or placed under tension, and when the load passed over the fulcrum the metal in the top `of the casting would be placed under compressiony and themetal in the bottom of thel casting would be stretched or placedv under tension. 1n other words, when al wheel passed over a cast metal frog of the type heretofore in use the fiber of the metal in certain portions of the casting would be alternately stretched and compressed and thus in time become ruptured.

The main object of my invention is to provide a cast metal frog of the rigid'or immovable point type which is so designed Y that reverse strains are materially reduced lstill another object is to provide a cast metal or practically eliminated, thus producing a serviceable castA metal vrailway track structure that will successfully carry ordinary or excessive loads without breaking.

Another object is to provide a frog which is so designed that a guttered or doubleflanged wheel will pass over same smoothly and without Vcausing the outer iange of the wheel to strike the wing rail a hard blow or lshock when the Wheel travels up over thewing rail in passing from the wingy rail onto the point of the frog. And

Specication of Letters Patent.

YPartenterl Mar. 2, i915..

Serial No. 678,934.

the mouth of the frog when the inside wheel of a car truck is pushed laterally into enj gagement with the'opposite wing rail to that on which the wheel is traveling by the side'thrust which the guard rail eXerts on the outside wheelof the truck.

Other objects and desirable features of my invention will be hereinafter vpointed out.'

Figure 1 of the drawings is a top plan view of a frog constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevational viewof said frog; Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and Mare transverse sectional views of Fig. 1, taken on section lines whose numbers correspond, respectively, to the numerals of said figures; F ig.y 15 is a top plan view illustrating a modification of my invention; Fig. 16 is a side elevational view partly broken away of the frog shown in f F ig. 1'5; and Fig. 17 is an enlarged detail view Vof a portion of the frog shown in Figs. 15 and 16.

Briefly stated, my invention consists in a cast-metal frog of the rigid or immovable point type that is composed of a plurality of sections which are combined in such a manner that the load which one section is carrying will not be transmitted to the section in front of same, thus practically preventing reverse strains from being created by aV wheel in passing over the frog.

In the preferred form of my invention `as shown in Figsl to 14, inclusive, the coinpletefrog is formed from a single casting that is divided intol several sections by means of vertical joints, spaces or slots which extend, transversely across the entire width of the casting but only partway through the casting in a vertical direction.

-By forming the casting in this mannerl kthree sections, A, B and `Cby means of two vfslots, joints or spaces lthat-extend trans- YVversely across the entire Widtaof the casting at certain predetermined pointsbetween the ends of the frog, preferably between the Ypoint and the heel of'the frog and between the'point and the mouth, said spaces i eX- tending'only partvay through the casting Y ina. Vertical direction so vas to leave integral ortions or transversel'- arranvedwebs l of metal Which tie. the dierentsections of the casting to baiseV plates. The intermediate `sectionld is provided with an integral frogvvpoint@ andiv'ing rails 3, theendsection C totheiright is providedwith rail sections Y termediate section and thevtwo end-sections is supported principally by tvvo base plates 'il arrangedadjacent-the joints between the different sectionsv and fornied lintegral 4with the' transverse Webs'lVa or'blocks of metal Vthat tie the sections tothe base plates and hold said seetionsfin alinen'ient. plates. a are vsecured in any suitable manner "to track ties lw, and'open spaces areformed between the base plates and thesections A, BandC of the casting, las shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so that only the extreme ends ofsaid sections will bear upon the baseplates. In otherav'ords, l provide -Webs of metal l for tying -theseetionsA, -B and C to base pla'tes'vvhich are spaced far enough away fromthe underside of the different sections to permit said sections to deflect slightly in a vertical! direction Without striking against the base plates,vthus producing a frog which 'comprisestvvo main supports, an` intermediate section Whose ends rest upon said supports, and end sections Whose inner ends also-re'st upon said supports but are separated from the intermediate section of the casting-by meansof slotslorfspaces that eX- tend transversely across the entirevvidth of 'the casting. Y i

Y 'order to provide a substantial sup-V p'orting'surface for the frog throughout its entire length and thus relieve the track ties w fromthe entire load imposed upon the frog, I arrange ties y'underftheV 'intermediate secntion .B andlunder the end sections A andC of vthe frog,VV the top faces *ofV the" auxiliary supporting'ties Viybeing arranged in a higher Y; horizontal plane than the Vtop faces. ofY the ties wgonrwhich lthe' base plates l rest. lf desired, the raised' portions Vof the casting VWhich 'form the frogpoint,"wing rails,

' etc., can'be made hollow and provided with suitable Vtransversestrengthening Webs, as shown in broken-lines vin `Fig. l andthe various transverse sectional'views, andthe baseV plates i4 andl also gthe base Y portions of The base inside wheel of a car the end sections A and C can be cut out, as shown in Fig. l, or designed in such a mannerthat all superfluous metal in these portions of the structure is eliminated.

ina frog of the construction above-described a vertical load applied to one of the end sections of the frog Will be transmitted directly to the base plate on which said end section rests, and after the load Vhas passed from the end section onto the spaced away from the under sides of the sections suiiciently to permit said sections to deflect slightly in a vertical direction, there is very little tendency for the various sections to fulcruin on the tie Consequently, there is no tendency for a cast metal frog of the construction above-described to break for-practically no reverse strains are created in the casting.

ln order to reduce the liability of the casting breaking adjacent the mouth of the frog when va wing rail is subjected to an excessive lateral strain or shock from the truck, as usually occurs. when the outside Wheel of the truck comes into Contact with the guard rail, l tie Ythe base flanges of the Wing rail extensions 31 of-the end section C together by means of a transversely disposed 'web (l that is formed integral with said base flanges, as

4shown Vclearly in Figs. ly to 141-, and if desired, the base flanges of the rail sections 2 on the opposite end section A of the casting can be tied together in a similar manner by means of an integral web 7, as shown in Fig. l.

Vln addition to the desirable features above-mentioned my frog comprises means for causing a guttcred or double-hanged Wheel to travel over the frog smoothly and Without subjecting the Wing rails to a sharp impact or blonT when the outer flange of the Wheel rides up onto the tread of the Wing rail in passing from the Wing rail onto the point. lVhile I have` shown this latter feature applied to a cast metal frog l do not Wish it to be understood that it is limited to afrog of this specific type for it is applicable to any rigid point frog irrespective of Whether the frog is cast in one piece or Y built up from short sections of T- nils.

mencing at a `point adjacent .the mouth of lthe frog in, a lower horizontal plane than the tread surfaces of the wing rails and rising gradually to a point between the throat and the mouth where the top faces of said 4risers merge into the tread surfaces of the Vwing rail onto the point of the frog. In

other words, the inclined risers 8 act as wheel-tread surfaces for the outer flange of a guttered wheel and thus guide such a wheel smoothly onto the tread surface of the wing rail on which the wheel is traveling. Furthermore, said risers eliminate the possibility of the outer flange of a doublefianged wheel hugging the side of the wing rail after the wheel has passed the throat Vof the frog, thus preventing the inner flange or main flange of the wheel from being drawn into engagement with the point of the' frog by reason of the outer flange hugging the side of the wing rail after the wheel has passed through the throat.

, In Figs. 15 to 17, inclusive, I have illustrated a slightly modified formof my invention in ,which the intermediate section B of thegfrog has no direct connection with the end sections A and C or with the main base plate ela of the frog, said intermediate section B merely consisting of a separate casting or block of metal that bears at its opposite ends upon the base plate l of the frog. As shown in F ig. 15, the base plate 4f* extends practically the entire length of the frog and is formed integral with the rail sections 12a and 13n that lconstitute the end sections A. and C, respectively, of the frog. lllhe intermediate section B is provided with f an integral frog-point, wing rails and risers similar to those illustrated in Fig. 1, and

`joints or open spaces 11 are formed between the ends of said intermediate section B and the end sections A and C. rIhebase plate a is provided with bearings Lib on which the opposite ends of the intermediate section B rest,and at approximately the center of said intermediate section B is a bearing 9 that is normally spaced slightly away Afrom a cooperating bearing surface 9a on the base plate. The intermediate section B rests freely on the base plate and is prevented from moving longitudinally or transversely of the base plate by means of lugs 15 on the base plate that fit in' notches in the intermediate section B, as. shown in F ig. 15. I also prefer to provide the base plate with reinforcing and strengthening ribs 16 at the points of intersection between the intermediate section and the end sections, said ribs being on the under side of the base plate, as shown in Figs. 16 and 17.

A frog ofthe constructionjust described embodies practically the same desirable features as the frog shown in Fig. 1 owing to the fact that the intermediate section is supported in such a manner that there is no liability of its fulcruming intermediate its ends when a wheel passes over same, and the end sections are separate and distinct from the intermediate section and consequently can move or deflect slightly in a vertical direction relatively to said intermediate section.

Ifv desired, inserts 17 can be arranged in the slots or open spaces 1 and 11 in the two forms of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 15, respectively, but these inserts are not at all essential and can either be used or dispensed with as the manufacturer desires. In manufacturing a frog of the type shown in Fig. 1 inserts could probably be arranged in the mold so as to form the joints or open spaces 1 between the sections but it would be immaterial whether or not these inserts were removed after the frog was installed for they would not interfere with the operation of the frog or prevent one section from deflecting slightly relatively to the other.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A cast metal frog of the immovable point type comprising several sections or portions which are separated from each other by transversely extending spaces that give a certain ldegree of flexibility to the frog.

2. A frog of the rigid point type comprising a plurality of sections whose top portions or running surfaces are divided or separated by transversely extendingslots.

3. A frog of the rigid point type comprising a plurality of sections whose top Iportions or running surfaces are divided or separated by transversely extending joints, and base supports arranged adjacent the joints between said sections. y

l. A frog of the rigid point type comprising a plurality of sections whose top portions or running surfaces are divided or separated by transversely extending' slots, and supporting base plates integrally connected to the ends of said sections.

5. A. cast metal frog of the immovable point type whose running surface consists of a plurality of transversely divided sections, and means for supporting the ends of said sections. y

6. A rigid point frog consisting of a casting whose top surface is separated or divided into several sections by means of transversely extending slots which extend lpartway .through Vthe .casting in a vertical direction.

7. A rigid. point frog consisting of a casting whose top surface is divided into a plurality of .sections by means of transversely extending joints, and base plates .spaced away from the under side of the end portions of saidsections and connected to said fsections by webs. 8. vA railway frog consistingof two base plates which are adapted to be connected to vtrack ties, and an intermediate section and two end sections resting at their ends upon said base plates and provided with top faces whichrform the running surface of a rigid point froO.

9. A railway frog of the rigid point type consisting of afcasting provided with two base Vplates that are spaced away slightly fronrthe under side of the casting and ar- Vranged'adjacent the heel and mouth of the frog,' the top surface of said casting .being dividedinto acplurality of sections by means of joints that'extend transverselyacross the casting. 10. A railway frog of the rigidA point type consisting ofja casting providedwith two base plates that Aare Vspaced away. slightly from the lunder side'of the casting and arranged adjacent the heel and mouth of the frogfthe. top surface of said casting being divided into a plurality of sections by means .of spacesthat extend transversely across the casting. .l

11. A railway frog consisting of a cast metal structure that comprises a frog point, wing rails, and risers arranged outside of the wing rails-adjacent the throat of the frog for guiding the outer flange of a guttered .wheel up onto the tread surface ofthe wing railas thewheel passes from the wing rail ontorthe frog point.

12.Arailway frogconsisting of a'V cast metal structure that comprises affrog point5 vying rails, and risers integrally connected together, said risers being arranged outside Copies of this patent may be obtained for aaa-91,905

of the wing rails adjacent the throat of the frog and provided with upwardly inclined tread surfaces whose upper ends merge into the tread surfaces of the wing rails.

13. A railway frog comprising an intermediate section that is provided with a frog point, wing rails, and risers arranged outside of the wing rails adjacent the throat of the frog, end sections provided with rails that form continuations of said frog point and wing rails, and base plates on which the ends of said intermediate and end sections bear and to which they are integrally connected.

14. A cast metal railway frog provided at one end with rail sections which form continnations of the wing rails of the frog, and a transversely extending tie brace integrally connected to the base flanges of said rail sections.

15. A railway frog consisting of a continuous base plate provided at one end with rail sections that form continuations of the frog point and at its opposite end with rail sections that form continuations of the wing rails, and an intermediate section supported atV its ends upon said base plate and provided with a frog point and wing rails.

16. A railway frog consisting of a continuous base plate provided at one end with Vrail sections thatV forni continuations of the frog point and at its opposite ond with rail sections that form continuations of the wing rails, an intermediate section supported at its ends upon said base plate and provided with a frog point and wing rails, and means for preventing said intermediate section from inoif'ing transversely or longitudinally of the base plate.

ln testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this twelfth day of February, 1912.

HARRY F. ROACH.

litnesses ,VVnLLs L. CHURCH, Geenen R. LAnsoN.

five Vcents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Y Washington, D. C. 

